Content
Peony Mister Ed has unique decorative properties and will help to decorate any area or flower bed. Such a plant is capable of changing color depending on weather and climatic conditions, or at the same time bloom in several shades. At the same time, the variety obtained by the breeding method does not need special care.
Description of peony Mister Ed
The flower was bred by breeders by crossing Lactiflora and Monsieur Jules Elie peonies. Plant height reaches 1 m. The bush has several stems, at the end of spring they are covered with buds. Each has 1 main and 2-3 secondary flowers.
The plant has a powerful root system. Some underground shoots can grow to a depth of 60 cm.
The stems are covered with a large number of pointed feathery leaves. Their color changes depending on the season. In spring and early summer, the foliage is light. After flowering, in hot weather, they turn dark green.
The plant adapts well to the climatic characteristics of the growing region. Peonies "Mister Ed" are resistant to low temperatures. Such a flower is considered sun-loving. Therefore, it is best planted in well-lit areas.
Planting peonies is recommended during the cooler months of autumn.
The use of supports for growing is optional. An exception may be cases when a large number of flowers appear on one bush, which bend the stems under their own weight. In this case, you can use supports or carry out a garter.
Flowering features
Peonies of the "Mister Ed" variety belong to the terry type. The flowers are hemispherical in shape and consist of a large number of petals of different sizes.
The main feature of the variety is that buds of different colors can be present on the same bush. The color can change annually. It depends mainly on weather conditions. Often on the peony "Mr. Ed" half of the flower has a different color. White and pink petals are usually combined. Less common are red and yellow.
It is advisable to plant a peony in a sunny place.
The flowering period is the first half of summer. The term depends on the temperature and humidity of the air, the nutritional value of the soil and other features. On the stems, 1, less often 2-3 flowers with a diameter of 14-15 cm appear. Flowering lasts an average of 12-14 days, but in some cases it can take up to 18-20 days.
The flowering quality is also influenced by the planting method. If the technology is violated, Mr. Ed peonies may not bloom, even despite the high nutritional value of the soil and other contributing factors.
Application in design
Due to their characteristics, herbaceous peonies Mr. Ed are actively used as an ornamental plant. They look beautiful both in single planting and in combination with other colors.
When creating compositions on flower beds, peonies are recommended to allocate a central place. The variety, due to the variety of flowers, is combined with a large number of other plants that are placed side by side.
Peony bushes can be planted in gardens and parks
Suitable for the neighborhood:
- carnations;
- asters;
- barberry;
- crocuses;
- lilies;
- astilbe;
- petunias;
- dahlias;
- chrysanthemums;
- daffodils.
When planting, you should take into account the short flowering period of peonies. Therefore, it is desirable that other plants bloom after the end of this period. Then the area will stay bright longer. After flowering, peonies will serve for landscaping and will become a kind of backdrop for other plants.
When decorating a plot using the "Mister Ed" variety, it should be remembered that they are demanding on the composition of the soil, and also take a long time to recover after transplanting. Therefore, they should be placed on spacious flower beds.
Reproduction methods
Variety "Mister Ed" is divided to obtain new copies. For this, adults adapted to open ground plants are used. The age of the bush is at least 3 years. Otherwise, the root system does not have time to accumulate sufficient nutrients for recovery.
Peonies are planted in autumn, the roots should get stronger before the first frost
The division is carried out in late summer or early autumn. During this period, root buds are formed.
Stages of the procedure:
- The bush is dug up, removed from the soil.
- The roots are washed to cleanse the soil.
- The plant is left to dry in the shade for 3-4 hours.
- The stems are cut at a distance of 12-15 cm from the roots.
- "Delenki" with three or more kidneys are selected.
- The place of the cut on the bush is smeared with river sand.
- The plant is returned to its former, previously fertilized place.
- "Delenki" are planted in the ground.
You can propagate Mr. Ed peonies using seeds. However, this process is very laborious and time-consuming. Some growers use the grafting method. But it is the division of the bush that is considered the most effective.
Landing rules
This variety of peonies is picky about the composition of the soil. This is taken into account when choosing a landing site.
The soil should be moderately moist. Before peonies, no other plants should grow on it for at least 2 years. Only in this case will the soil be rich in nutrients.
The site should be illuminated by the sun. It is best if a shadow falls on it at midday, which will protect the peony from excess ultraviolet radiation.
For planting use "delenki" obtained with their own hands or purchased in special stores. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the absence of damage, signs of decay. There should be at least 3 buds on the “delenka”.
Immediately after planting in open ground, the plant is watered abundantly
Landing Algorithm:
- Dig a hole 60 cm deep and wide.
- The bottom is filled with expanded clay or coarse sand in combination with peat as a drainage layer.
- The top is covered with cleaned garden soil, mixed with compost or humus.
- "Delenka" is placed in the ground.
- Sprinkle so that the kidneys are at a depth of 3 to 5 cm.
The "Mr. Ed" variety should be planted in early autumn. Then the bush will have time to take root and endure the winter well. Spring planting is also allowed. But in this case, you need to cut off the buds that are forming so that the plant does not consume the nutrients necessary for rooting.
Follow-up care
The varietal qualities of Mr. Ed peonies appear only 2-3 years after planting. During this period, special care of the plant is not required.
Weeds should be removed around the bushes. Also, the flower needs regular watering. It is carried out 1-2 times a week, depending on the air temperature.
The most important activity is considered to be loosening the soil. The "Mr. Ed" variety does not tolerate dense soil. Therefore, loosening is carried out every month. With heavy rainfall and regular watering, the frequency of the procedure is increased up to 2-4 times.
Fertilizers (ash, compost, potassium, superphosphate) are applied once a year
The recommended loosening depth is 10-12 cm. The procedure should be carried out with care so as not to damage the surface roots.
When planting in pre-fertilized soil, top dressing is not required for the first 2 years.In the future, the grade "Mister Ed" is recommended to be periodically treated with mineral solutions and complex granular preparations. Recharge is carried out in mid-spring, in the summer before flowering, as well as in early autumn. Organic fertilizers are applied once before wintering.
To maintain soil moisture in the summer, it should be mulched. Usually, the procedure is performed simultaneously with loosening. Wood bark, sawdust, peat and straw are used as mulch.
General recommendations for the care of peonies:
Preparing for winter
"Mister Ed" is a frost-resistant variety. Adult specimens can survive the winter without shelter, provided that the temperature does not drop below -20 degrees. Young bushes are best protected from frost and wind.
The peony is frost-resistant, so it does not need a mandatory shelter for the winter
If the autumn collection of seeds from peonies is not planned, the peduncles must be removed. The frequency of watering is gradually reduced. In the middle of autumn, when the temperature drops, you need to remove the leaves and stems, leaving superficial shoots 10-12 cm long. At the same time, feed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer and soil mulching are carried out.
The bush can be covered with hay, dry foliage and sawdust. Spruce branches and pine branches are ideal. In strong winds, the bush can be covered with an air-permeable film, it will protect the peony from freezing.
Pests and diseases
The plant has a low sensitivity to infections. However, the variety "Mister Ed", if not properly cared for, can infect the fungus. The most common diseases are gray rot. For treatment, the affected area is cut off, and healthy shoots are treated with a fungicide for prophylaxis.
Root rot may develop at high soil moisture. In this case, the soil must be loosened, treated with a fungicide. If possible, the diseased root is dug up and removed. Such a disease can lead to the death of the flower.
With root rot, the affected area of the peony is removed
Among pests, the most common beetle and root nematodes. It is recommended to pick up insects by hand. You can also treat the flower with an insecticide. The best remedies for nematodes are Nematofagin and Phosphamide.
Conclusion
Peony Mister Ed is a unique decorative variety. Its flowers can be of different colors, which makes the plant an excellent decoration for the site. Caring for such a peony involves a minimum set of mandatory activities. Otherwise, it is an unpretentious and frost-resistant variety.
